Suicide after killing girlfriend

Gabriela Bullock is said to have "got on with absolutely everyone"

A divorced mother was probably taken by surprise when she was stabbed twice in the neck by her "possessive and jealous" boyfriend, an inquest heard.

A month before she was killed by him, German-born Gabriella Bullock, 49, told her daughter that Tony Hartley, 37, had proposed to her.

Hartley was found hanging near Rhyl promenade.

Coroner John Hughes recorded verdicts of unlawful killing on Mrs Bullock and suicide on Hartley.

Ms Bullock's daughter Jacqueline told the inquest in Prestatyn that Hartley was "clingy" and her mother confided that he was "doing her head in".

She was found dead at her flat in River Street in Rhyl last December.

Family members had gone there because they were worried when she failed to answer phone calls.

I don't think she knew anything about it - her death was pretty immediate Dr Brian Rodgers, pathologist

Hartley, who lived in a nearby flat, was found dead behind the Children's Village on the town's promenade.

The inquest heard that his brother had killed himself in 1993 by hanging following the end of a relationship.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers told the inquest there were two fatal wounds to the right and left of Ms Bullock's neck.

"In the right side wound the knife was still present," he explained.

'Innocent victim'

There were no signs of defensive injuries.

Dr Rodgers said:"It suggests to me she was completely taken by surprise and probably knew nothing about what happened.

Police at the scene lof Gaby Bullock's death last December

"Both knife wounds had damaged the main blood vessels going to the brain. She would have passed out almost immediately."

"I don't think she knew anything about it. Her death was pretty immediate."

The coroner told Ms Bullock's daughter: "This whole terrible tragedy started with your mother being vulnerable. She had a marriage that had gone wrong and a long-term relationship that had gone wrong.

"It increased her vulnerability so when a man like Anthony Hartley came on the scene she wanted affection.

"I have no doubt your mother was the innocent victim in all of this. Perhaps she was in too deep to extricate herself."

Mr Hughes said they may never know what exactly happened but Hartley's own brother had described him as possessive and jealous and was not surprised.

Last year Hartley had appeared in court for theft and magistrates were told he was in a "new and positive relationship".